The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-14
PRINCE WILLIAM.

Something About the Reckless Young Soldier
Who May Soon Be Emperor.
Berlin Letter in New York World.
The serious reports from San Reno about the
dangerous character of the Crown Princes
threat malady naturally cause great excitement,
not only IN Berlin, but throughout Europe. It
is only too evident that the aged Kaiser himself
cannot last much longer. and should the Crown
Prince die before him. Europe cannot but look
with some degree of uneasness to the prospect
of Prince William ascending the throne as Ger
man Emperor, for he is mere boy yet, only in
his twenty eighth year, and has chiefly distin-
guished himself as yet representative of the
most Objectionable type of the Prussan military
''Younker." He is the pride of the military party
in Prussia. the favorite of the Kaiser. and the
hope of Prince Bismarck. who, it is well known,
has no friendship for the Crown Prince the
Crown Prince has special liking for him.
The Crown Prince, though the ideal of beau
sabreur in appearance. has little of that spirit
of Hohenzoilern aggressiveness in him. He be-
fieves that when the Kaiser dies the time will
have come for Germany to cultivate more the
arts of peace than of war. His accession to the
German imperial throne would be hailed with joy
by all the non-Prussian States Of Germany. and
should he be cured of mis- present ualady he
would become ideal type of the patrarchal
Kaiser. He is not a believer in immense stand
ing armies like his father or Prince Bismarck.
He does not dream OF the eventual destruction
of France. but would prefer 20 see his empire
eontesting in the realms of industry. science and
art rather than on the fields of battle
But neither the Emperor nor Prince Bismarck
is in sympathy with him. Both convinced
that the power of Germany. which was won by
the sword. can only be maintained by the
sword, and SO they have trained up the Crown
Princes son. Prince William. in a manner cal
culated to give him the spirit and character of
Frederick the Great. They have succeeded SO
far in producing young man who hates every
thing that is not German, and who will be
source of danger to the peace of Europe should
discusses the question to what will be the
result when he Is Emperor, says: There Will
be war"
1t is only few years ago that at a banquet
given by him to the officers of his regiment he
refused to drink champagne saying: Il drink
nothing but German wine" His hatred of Rus
STA is no less bitter than that for France. Dur
ing the last fifty years. and especially since the
creation of the empire, the relations between
Prussia, Germany and Russia have been regu-
lated to certain degree by the family relation
ships existing between the ruling families.
Kaiser Williams sister was the wife of Gar
Nicholas. The late Empress Princess of
Darmstadt. The Kaiser is the grand-uncle of
the Gar It has always been the conviction that
with Russia will never take place as long
the present Emperor is alive. and it is safe to
say that the Crown Prince. while he lives, will
follow his fathers example and strive to keep
up friendly relations with Germany's colossal
neighbor. But Prince William knows nothing
OF sentiment. It is said he has shown
marked disrespect several times to his mother;
for England he has no love. His boon compan-
ions are the Crown Prince of Austria. a young
gentleman morally dsreputable as himself,
anc Young Count Herbert Bismarck.
Prince William is well educated, however.
He was carefully trained boy. He received
private instructions in the classic languages,
mathematics, physics religion, gymnastics. He
was then sent to tie gymnasium at Cassel,
where he passed his examination for the uni
versity with credit He then sent 10 Bonn.
where he stRdied diligently and was very popu-
lar with the'students, joining with them in their
enter tainments in the Knelpin His essays dur
ing his Cassel period were mostly military
subjects. One of the earliest which he deiv-
cred at an examination, was on Aexander's ex-
petition TO India, in which he praised highly the
greatness and fame of the old conoueror |
biographer of the Prince chronicles the |
fact that he not only loved military |
history. but ate black bread for |
his breakfast. and was in the habit of exchang-
ing his white ioaves for it every opportunitv |
Like most German boys he was fond of botan-
izing He also loved mountain-climbine aud |
every kind of sport He also recognized as |
a capital swimmer and very skiliful on skates.
He Is also said to have been great admirer Of !